The Syrian Coalition’s political committee and head of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Nasser al-Hariri, on Tuesday held a teleconference with leading figures in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta to discuss the Assad regime and Russia’s ongoing violations of UN Security Council resolution 2401.

The two sides agreed to form a joint working room to coordinate their positions and seek the implementation of resolution 2401. Leaders in eastern Ghouta presented a list of the most urgent needs of the civilian population to be sent via the Syrian Negotiations Commission to the UN relief agencies and include these needs in the UN aid.

Both sides also agreed to exchange and document information as well as to prepare detailed reports to be presented to the UN Security Council with the aim of documenting the violations being committed by the Assad regime and its allies.

Member of the political committee Hadi Al-Bahra said that Moscow’s announcement of daily five-hour truce in eastern Ghouta violated resolution 2401 and is aimed at evading the implementation of the UN resolution. He stressed that Russia’s demands for the departure of civilians from eastern Ghouta is a distortion of the UN resolution and an attempt to displace the local population with the aim of changing the demographic landscape in the Damascus suburb. Bahra stressed that these demands are unacceptable.

For his part, Hariri pointed out that "loose words" have been included in the final draft of UN Security Council resolution 2401, which allows the Assad regime and its allies to procrastinate in its implementation and carry on with the pursuit of a military solution. He underscored that members of the UN Security Council should “impose measures to punish those who violates the resolution or it will remain useless.”

Leaders in eastern Ghouta presented a detailed explanation of the latest developments on the humanitarian and field level in the area. They emphasized they would remain steadfast in the face of the Assad regime’s killing machine as they will continue to seek to achieve the aspirations of the Syrian people to freedom and democracy.

The leaders also reaffirmed their outright rejection of extremism and commitment to combat all forms of terrorism. They also expressed their support for the positions of the Syrian Negotiations Commissions rejecting any agreements that would result in the forced displacement of the local population and bringing about a demographic change in the area. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)

Head of the Syrian Negotiations Commission, Nasr Hariri, slammed Russia’s actions in Syria and the way it interpreted UN Security Council resolution 2401. He stressed that Russia’s actions had rendered the UN resolution useless as he warned that the resolution might become counterproductive.

Hariri on Tuesday said that the UN resolution 2401 "has become meaningless following Russia’s announcement of a daily ceasefire and the opening of safe passages for civilians to leave eastern Ghouta.” He noted that the move is aimed at “emptying eastern Ghouta of its people to bring about a demographic change in the area," describing the announcement as “utterly unacceptable.”

Hariri pointed out that Moscow is “undermining all chances for a political solution by the commission of more crimes against the Syrian people and the issuance of provocative, misleading statements that have exposed Russia’s real intentions.” He stressed that the Syrian people will stick to their demands for the departure of the criminal Bashar al-Assad, slamming the Russian position which sees in such demands a form of extremism.

Russia on Monday announced it would implement a five-hour unilateral truce in eastern Ghouta, contrary to calls by UN Security Council resolution 2401 for a 30-day truce. It also said it would establish an evacuation corridor to allow people to leave the besieged Damascus suburb. As per UN resolution 2401, these corridors were supposed to be used for the introduction of humanitarian aid to the trapped civilians.

The Commission’s spokesman, Yahya Aridi, said that "there was no difference between the use of veto on the UN Security Council and the veto on the ground. “Criminal Putin used the 12th veto in eastern Ghouta," Aridi said, stressimg that all Russian and Iranian forces are legitimate targets along with the entire tyrannical Assad regime.

UN Security Council on Saturday and following repeated delays unanimously adopted resolution 2401 calling for a 30-day ceasefire in Syria to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to those in need.

Local activists said that the resolution was not implemented as Russian and Assad regime forces continued their ground and aerial attacks in eastern Ghouta, killing dozens of civilians. (Source: Syrian Coalition’s Media Department)